About this Research Topic
The important role of low-energy plasma (<~100 eV) throughout the Earth’s magnetosphere has recently been recognized, mainly thanks to measurements by LANL, Cluster, THEMIS, Van Allen Probes, Arase, and MMS. Cold plasma is initially supplied from the ionosphere and energized while transported to the magnetosphere. Low-energy plasma has various impacts on the magnetospheric processes including Alfvèn waves, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, wave-particle interactions, and mass loading of magnetic reconnection. Despite the recent advancement, the energy transfer across different plasma populations and energy exchange between electromagnetic fields, waves, and plasma remain to have a great deal of uncertainty and variability. At a fundamental level, sources and spatiotemporal distribution of low-energy plasma processes leading to cold plasma energization and their relative importance remain poorly understood.
The biggest challenge of identifying cold plasma energization processes is that various processes occur at multiple spatial scales as the low-energy plasma undergoes transition from one regime to another. The aim of this Research Topic is to highlight the open questions about energization of low-energy plasma, with a special focus on energy transport and exchange throughout the magnetosphere.
We welcome contributions on cutting-edge measurements and technological advances required from future frontier space mission profiles, as well as the state-of-the-art first-principles modeling technique to address cross-scale and cross-energy plasma interactions. We encourage innovative ideas to maximize the scientific gain from the limited experimental data to address the system-level perspective on cold plasma energization, in particular, implementation of machine learning in development and improvement of physics-based and empirical cold plasma models.
Additionally, we further welcome contributions regarding comparative studies of the low-energy plasma in the coupled magnetosphere-ionosphere system throughout the solar system.
We accept articles including original research, methods, review and mini-review, hypothesis & theory, perspective, data report, brief research reports, general commentary, and opinion on the following forward-looking broad topics:
– cutting-edge measurement techniques;
– advanced data analysis;
– advanced modeling techniques required to address the cross-energy and cross-scale interactions;
– advancement in theory, model simulations, and analysis techniques required for future satellite missions;
– innovative coordination between ground- and space-based measurements;
– pioneering usage of ML techniques;
– guidelines for the heliophysics community to maximize the scientific gain of upcoming space missions to target low-energy plasma;
– international collaboration and cooperation.
– relevant studies on the low-energy plasma in the coupled Magnetosphere-Ionosphere system throughout the solar system.
The biggest challenge of identifying cold plasma energization processes is that various processes occur at multiple spatial scales as the low-energy plasma undergoes transition from one regime to another. The aim of this Research Topic is to highlight the open questions about energization of low-energy plasma, with a special focus on energy transport and exchange throughout the magnetosphere.
We welcome contributions on cutting-edge measurements and technological advances required from future frontier space mission profiles, as well as the state-of-the-art first-principles modeling technique to address cross-scale and cross-energy plasma interactions. We encourage innovative ideas to maximize the scientific gain from the limited experimental data to address the system-level perspective on cold plasma energization, in particular, implementation of machine learning in development and improvement of physics-based and empirical cold plasma models.
Additionally, we further welcome contributions regarding comparative studies of the low-energy plasma in the coupled magnetosphere-ionosphere system throughout the solar system.
We accept articles including original research, methods, review and mini-review, hypothesis & theory, perspective, data report, brief research reports, general commentary, and opinion on the following forward-looking broad topics:
– cutting-edge measurement techniques;
– advanced data analysis;
– advanced modeling techniques required to address the cross-energy and cross-scale interactions;
– advancement in theory, model simulations, and analysis techniques required for future satellite missions;
– innovative coordination between ground- and space-based measurements;
– pioneering usage of ML techniques;
– guidelines for the heliophysics community to maximize the scientific gain of upcoming space missions to target low-energy plasma;
– international collaboration and cooperation.
– relevant studies on the low-energy plasma in the coupled Magnetosphere-Ionosphere system throughout the solar system.
Keywords: Low-energy plasma, Energy transfer processes, Energy exchange processes, Energization processes, Cross-energy interactions, Cross-scale coupling
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
